¹² And what I am doing I will continue to do, ^(A)in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. ¹³ For such men are ^(B)false apostles, ^(C)deceitful workmen, ^(D)disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as ^(E)an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as ^(F)servants of righteousness. ^(G)Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Warning Against False Teachers

^3 (A)As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not ^(B)to teach any different doctrine, ⁴ nor ^(C)to devote themselves to myths and endless ^(D)genealogies, which promote ^(E)speculations rather than the stewardship^[a] from God that is by faith. ⁵ The aim of our charge is love ^(F)that issues from a pure heart and ^(G)a good conscience and ^(H)a sincere faith. ⁶ Certain persons, by ^(I)swerving from these, have wandered away into ^(J)vain discussion, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, ^(K)without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

⁸ Now we know that ^(L)the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ understanding this, that the ^(M)law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,^[b] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to ^(N)sound^[c] doctrine, ¹¹ in accordance with ^(O)the gospel of the glory of ^(P)the blessed God ^(Q)with which I have been entrusted.